The Question:

The Answer:

The origins of Italy's famous tipping tower
are a bit of a mystery. And—luckily for the person who designed it—so
is the architect's name.

The bell tower was constructed over the course of 200 years,
starting in 1173. It was originally intended to stand upright, but
began tilting early in its construction. It has since both sunk
downward and tilted, as a result of the wet soil and decay of the
structure.

Various conservation efforts have been made over the centuries,
some helping to stabilize the tower and others accidentally making
matters worse. With the tilt increasing, the tower was closed to the
public in 1990. Bands and counterweights were used temporarily, while
soil was removed from underneath the raised side of the tower. By the
time the tower reopened in 2001, the tower's tilt was decreased by 17
inches, putting it back to where it had been in 1838. It is now
expected to be stable for another 300 years.